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Alexis Woytek

ENC 1102- 0M37

3/10/2021

Research Dossier: Restaurant Response During COVID-19

Dossier Introduction

Personally, the role of leaders in the business field has always been something that has

interested me ever since being involved in Student Government in high school. Throughout high

school I personally lead major projects throughout my four years, like our schools pep rallies,

dance marathon and homecoming events. Additionally, every year for the past four years I have

attended and now work a leadership camp that other students involved in student government in

the state of Florida attend. Therefore, the study of management skills in the business field

interests me a lot as a future career.

Within the business field there are so many components to running a business and people

involved when it comes to decision making. I personally do not know the direct field of

management I want to go into, so with this project I am able to study a specific area of business

to further grow my knowledge. One area that interests me besides leadership is the economic

background of businesses and studying trends during these times like COVID. Studying the

impact the pandemic restrictions have had financially on these restaurants is something that is

interesting for me to research. At the end of this project I hope to gain a better understanding of

how businesses are run and the decision process made by business managers.

During the time of COVID-19 restaurant businesses went through and are still going

through various restrictions, so I was interested in seeing how these businesses had to adapt to
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the changes in order to stay profitable. More specifically, the topic I chose to research this

semester is the management response of restaurant businesses during the pandemic stages in 3

states. Narrowing down my ideas for the project was something I struggled with in the

beginning. However, when I started researching my ideas I was able to see what I found most

interesting to learn more about. Therefore, I was able to focus my research on three major states,

Florida, New York and California in the United States of America. I decided these states based

on a few different factors such as state restrictions, COVID case numbers, and the state's

population.

Researching for my paper so far, I have found lots of useful articles and plan to assess

them more in the future. Finding the best points to mention on this topic takes time and thorough

research. I plan to fully familiarize myself with the different dining restrictions faced in each of

the three different states. With this information I will then examine the impact that it had on the

different restaurant management responses. Continuing to process and gather information will be

extremely beneficial with my paper. Additionally, I will strive to overcome another hurdle I have

found which is getting other types of research such as videos and graphs. With these future plans

I strive to learn and grow in the field of business. This research will hopefully shed light on the

difficult times for these restaurant businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research Proposal

Subject: Research Proposal: How Has the Various Impacts of COVID-19 Affected the Response

of Small Restaurant Businesses?

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Topic Description: For my research paper I will focus my research on small restaurant

businesses and their response during COVID-19 lockdown and after when restrictions were

starting to be lifted. This will be focused on Florida, New York, and California restaurants. This

topic allows room for dissecting what worked and what did not for these businesses during the

different stages of the pandemic. I will specifically target outdoor seating, indoor seating and

take-out. I will also study the different restaurant restrictions during the pandemic in the different

states. These areas of focus are important for me to analyze the trends between the different

states.

Documentation Style: I am choosing to use MLA style because APA is mostly used in scientific

research papers and I am a business management major.

Purpose: As a business management major this topic interests me because I can see how the

businesses were managed during the various stages of the pandemic. This links to my major

because the way these businesses were managed during the pandemic is similar to what I am

studying and interests me.

Intended Audience: People that might benefit from my research would be those that are in the

field of businesses management trying to understand the response that these small businesses

took to survive the pandemic. Additionally, my audience are those in my ENC 1102 class so I

will define terms as need be.

Research Question / Preliminary Thesis / Argument: My argument for this research paper is

that, throughout the different stages of the pandemic small businesses had to use what resources

that they had available to so that they are able to adapt and stay profitable. What ways of

responding to the pandemic work best or worst for these small businesses?
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Types of research areas: For my research paper I will be focusing on internet research and

scholarly articles because in the field of business, articles can mainly be drawn through online

discourse communities.

Keywords: COVID-19 restrictions, Small restaurants, Phase reopening, California restaurants

rules and restrictions, Florida restaurants rules and restrictions, New York restaurants rules and

restrictions.

Calendar:

March 3, 2021- Submit Draft Research Dossier

March 4, 2021- Peer review groups work/ wait for feedback

March 6, 2021- Review feedback and make adjustments

March 10, 2021- Submit Final Research Dossier

March 14, 2021- Music Listening Assessment

March 15, 2021- Work on Draft Rhetorical Analysis

March 20, 2021- Work on Research Paper

March 23, 2021- Economics Test

March 24, 2021- Submit Draft Rhetorical Analysis

March 31, 2021- Submit Final Draft Rhetorical Analysis

March 31, 2021- Leadership Audit

April 4, 2021- Work on Research Paper

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April 5, 2021- Submit Draft 1 Research Paper

April 6, 2021- Revise and submit Draft 2 Research Paper

April 19, 2021- Submit Draft 3 Research Paper

April 26, 2021- Submit Final Draft Argumentative Research Paper

List of References:

1. Bartik, A., Bertrand, M., Cullen, Z., Glaeser, E., Luca, M. and Stanton, C., 2021. The impact of COVID-19

on small business outcomes and expectations. Available at: www.pnas.org/content/117/30/17656.short

Content: Survey of the effects of the pandemic including layoffs and financial struggles, highlighting most

the economic impact on the small businesses surveyed. They discuss many businesses that were impacted

by coronavirus, along with evidence on the long term impacts.

Author: Bartik, A- Department of Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Bertrand, M-

Booth School of Business, The University of Chicago; Cullen, Z- Harvard Business School; Glaeser, E-

Department of Economics, Harvard University

BEAM: There is not much bias because it is not an argumentative focused paper. They provide background

to their writing with dates and motives for writing, to research the information for the business field. Their

evidence comes straight from the businesses they researched along with educated elaboration. This a

secondary source because they found the research from the businesses.

2. Bouey, J., 2021. Assessment of COVID-19's Impact on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Implications

from China: Testimony of Jennifer Bouey, Before the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, March 10,

2020. [online] Homeland Security Digital Library. Available at: <https://www.hsdl.org/?

abstract&did=835233> [Accessed 10 February 2021].

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Content: Explains the economic impact in China that had impacts in America and the global supply chain.

This is important for showing how US businesses were already struggling when the pandemic hit.

Author: Buoey works for RAND Corporation that specializes in research analysis.

BEAM: This source is classified as a testimony from Bouey so there is a slight bias. She does use the most

recent data available and statistics to back up her points. There is extensive research on the topic with

evidence.

3. SmallBusinessMajority.org. 2021. COVID-19 AND THE IMPACT TO SMALL BUSINESS: SMALL

BUSINESS NEEDS DURING AND AFTER THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS: A ROADMAP TO RECOVERY.

[online] Available at: <https://smallbusinessmajority.org/policy-agenda/covid-19?

gclid=Cj0KCQiApY6BBhCsARIsAOI_GjZOgAMUb7xXaXIw3rr_IM_B25Ed8yDK5QlYY-

7HnrHDSnUFeXUQ-ykaAl4jEALw_wcB> [Accessed 10 February 2021].

Content: Discussed the impacts that various funding bills would have on small businesses and the

economy. They explain various policies needed for small businesses and loans that would be extremely

beneficial to help those in the pandemic.

Author: There is no specific author provided however it is published by Small Business Majority who was

founded in 2005 and is an established group.

BEAM: The Small Business Majority is a left wing advocacy organization so their information will be

biased. Their focus for the paper is explaining the research on funding needed for the small businesses to

survive the coronavirus pandemic.

4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2021. Community, Work, and School. [online] Available at:

<https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html> [Accessed 10

February 2021].

Content: The CDC overview of guidelines with safety equipment and safety procedures. This site is the

most specific and exact on all safety procedures and guidelines. They give the information for anyone to

access and have specific areas for restaurants. This is a more broad overview and is not specific to cities.
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Author: This is an updated site by the CDC organization and does not have one specific author. The CDC

is an organization that the US government has advised businesses to refer to for guidelines in most cases.

BEAM: This site is not biased, scientist data is compiled and translated for others to refer to and

understand. They give the best options for people to follow in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.

5. OpenTable Blog. 2021. A State-by-State Guide to Where Restaurants Are Open After Coronavirus. [online]

Available at: <https://blog.opentable.com/2021/states-provinces-restaurants-reopen-guide-coronavirus/>

[Accessed 24 February 2021].

Content: Gives a state by state guide to what restaurants are open in an easy to read format. This is an up to

date source that helps me see the difference in eating situations in the three states I am analyzing.

Author: This is a periodically updated blog that tells people that visit the site what restaurants are open in

popular cities across America. The site open table is a new source that is reliable.

BEAM: There is not a bias in this source because they only provide specific facts on which restaurants are

open in specific areas. This site does constant research and contact with small businesses to know if they

are able to have customers and the dining options available.

6. Turner, J., 2021. These are the rules Florida restaurants must follow to reopen Monday. [online] Orlando

Weekly. Available at: <https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2020/05/02/these-are-the-rules-

florida-restaurants-must-follow-to-reopen-monday> [Accessed 25 February 2021].

Content: A news article explaining the necessary precautions florida restaurants needed to take in order to

reopen again. They give researched tips on how to help businesses in Florida stay safe during the pandemic.

It is an example of the innovative skills taken by the businesses to stay profitable.

Author: There is no information on the author however it is published through the credible source of The

News Service of Florida.

BEAM: There is no bias in this article because there is no argument, only a presentation of researched tips

and facts about the pandemic. They explain to their audience using facts and evidence information for

businesses on how to combat the pandemic.

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7. DiMartino, M., 2021. Restaurants Say New Restrictions Create ‘Dire’ Situation | Los Angeles Business

Journal. [online] Labusinessjournal.com. Available at:

<https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2020/dec/14/restaurants-new-restrictions-create-dire-situation/>

[Accessed 25 February 2021].

Content: LA’s strict dining rules and the impact they are having on the local businesses and community.

The state of Califorian still has the tightest lockdown restrictions compared to the other states. This article

shows how the restaurant businesses are able to still be profitable and the struggles they have gone through

during the pandemic.

Author: DiMartino is a staff reporter for the Los Angeles Business Journal.

BEAM: There is little bias because this is not an argumentative source, they focus on the restaurants strict

rules they have to follow. This source is located in LA and focuses on LA restaurants.

8. Hagerty, M., 2021. Sacramento Business Journal: The Impact Of Coronavirus Restrictions On Local

Businesses. [online] Capradio.org. Available at:

<https://www.capradio.org/articles/2020/11/20/sacramento-business-journal-the-impact-of-coronavirus-

restrictions-on-local-businesses/> [Accessed 25 February 2021].

Content: This source shows another location of California and the impact of the dining restrictions. They

break down city by city restrictions and interview business owners on the impact it is having on them.

Author: Hagerty is an Interim News Anchor and has had a 30-year career in news and has lived in

California for his whole life.

BEAM: This is an audio source with the transcript written with a bias towards the small businesses. They

used direct quotes and facts to back up their evidence in an interview style. There is a lot of valuable and

credible information presented as well.

9. Www1.nyc.gov. 2021. NYC Restaurant Reopening Guide - NYC Business. [online] Available at:

<https://www1.nyc.gov/nycbusiness/article/nyc-restaurant-reopening-guide> [Accessed 25 February 2021].

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Content: Explains how the different covid zones in New York determine the status for restaurant

reopenings. They organize the website with easy links to find specific information on how local restaurants

are being impacted and reopening.

Author: There is no specific author because the information is coming from NYC Businesses publication.

BEAM: There is no bias because they are presenting facts on the different zones in New York city and

their restrictions on dining. The information they present is from the governors rules and announcements.

10. Governor.ny.gov. 2021. [online] Available at:

<https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/NYC_Indoor_Food_Services_Detail

ed_Guidance.pdf> [Accessed 25 February 2021].

Content: The document shows the current and updated guidelines for New York restaurants. This is the

direct information that the restaurants in New York city had to follow in September 2020. It explains the

zones that can reopen and the specific restrictions

Author: This is a public document from the Governor of New York Cities office.

BEAM: This is a direct source from the governor of New York Cities office and therefore is not biased and

a primary source. The evidence used is the researched data made by other health officials that they

consulted when coming up with the restrictions.

11. Floridahealth.gov. 2021. The State of Florida Issues Updates on COVID-19 | Florida Department of

Health. [online] Available at: <http://www.floridahealth.gov/newsroom/2020/03/031720-2152-

covid19.pr.html#:~:text=Restaurants%20across%20the%20state%20of,the%20website%20for%20DBPR.>

[Accessed 25 February 2021].

Content: A detailed explanation of the response of Florida restaurants shut down at the start of COVID

back in March. This article is used as a comparison for the rules in dining in Florida at the very beginning

of the pandemic compared to the current information available.

Author: There is no author cited, the information was published through Florida Health.
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Beam: There is no bias in this source because they present what information they knew of at the very

beginning of the pandemic. There was not much research evidence on the virus at the time so this article is

outdated.

12. Files.covid19.ca.gov. 2021. [online] Available at: <https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-dine-in-

restaurants.pdf> [Accessed 25 February 2021].

Content: PDF that describes the recommended precautions for California restaurants at the beginning of

the pandemic. This source explains in detail their recommendations for the interests of the health and safety

for the California citizens.

Author: Published by the California Department of Public Health a credible source.

BEAM: There is no bias in this source because of the presented restrictions and their recommendations to

protect the state of California residents. They used the research and evidence that was available at the

beginning of the pandemic to give their best recommendations.